De Beers have spent most of a century convincing people that a large diamond is a mandatory part of an engagement proposal. You mightn't be affected by this pro

De Beers have spent most of a century convincing people that a large diamond is a mandatory part of an engagement proposal. You mightn't be affected by this propaganda campaign, but a lot of people are. Lots of other luxury goods are bullshit, but none of them are marketed as an essential part of a normal life. Nobody feels under pressure to buy a Louis Vuitton handbag or a Rolex watch just to get engaged. De Beers have effectively re-invented the dowry, with the significant difference that unlike diamonds, cattle or gold keep their resale value.